The Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

"The definitive record of the English language."

The OED is the historical dictionary of the English language. Unlike standard dictionaries, it traces the history and evolution of every word, providing quotations from literature and historical documents to show how meanings have changed from the earliest times to the present day.

This is one of the greatest scholarly projects ever undertaken. It is the ultimate authority on the English language, documenting the richness, flexibility, and global reach of English. It is a biography of the language itself.